Browsing by Author "Shisanya, Chris A."

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    Determinants of Agricultural Production in Kenya under Climate Change
    (Open Access Library, 2017) Nwachukwu, Ifeanyi N.; Shisanya, Chris A.
    Climate change has been described as the most significant environmental threat of the 21st century with vast impact mostly on agriculture, altering food production processes. As an important sector in the Kenyan economy, agriculture continues to dominate other sectors despite its declining contribution to real GDP. Given that the performance of the agricultural sector is determined by a large number of factors, the need to articulate this study has become imperative in view of the climate phenomenon. Therefore, the study examined the determinants of agricultural production in Kenya under climate change with specific interests in assessing the trend of climate variables and growth rate of agricultural production within 1970-2012 periods; estimating factors influencing agricultural production and deducing policy implications from the findings. Data used were secondary and include value of agricultural production, livestock, machines, fertilizer, agricultural land, labour, annual precipitation and temperature over the study period. These were obtained from databases hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAOSTAT), the World Bank and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Data analysis was done using trend analysis, log quadratic trend equation and multiple regression model. The trend results show that precipitation pattern traced out high amplitude decadal variability with the forecast showing off a slightly upward trend. In temperature, the inter-annual variability observed was wide with a forecast of a slight increase up to 2020. In terms of growth analysis, the log quadratic equation indicates that agricultural production posted a compound growth rate of 3.252% during the period while production was determined by the quantum of labour, livestock, agricultural land, precipitation and its squared term. The implication is that precipitation both on the short and long run affected agricultural production. It is recommended that ecosystem based and technologically driven adaptation measures be taken to address climate change effects on agricultural production.
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    Farming systems’ typologies analysis to inform agricultural greenhouse gas emissions potential from smallholder rain-fed farms in Kenya
    (Elsevier, 2020) Musafiri, Collins M.; Macharia, Joseph M.; Ng’etich, Onesmus K.; Kiboi, Milka N.; Okeyo, Jeremiah; Shisanya, Chris A.; Okwuosa, Elizabeth A.; Mugendi, Daniel N.; Ngetich, Felix K.
    Most sub-Saharan Africa smallholder farming systems are highly heterogeneous. Direct quantification of greenhouse gas emissions from these farming systems is hampered by diversity at farm-level. Each farm contributes differently to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and consequently GHG inventories. Typologies can be used as a mechanism of addressing farming systems’ heterogeneity by grouping them into specific farm types. With the GHG quantification simplification initiatives in mind, we developed smallholder farm typologies based on soil fertility inputs. We assessed nitrogen application rate, soil fertility management technologies and the socio-economic factors diversity among the farm typologies in the central highlands of Kenya. We used data from a cross-sectional household survey with a sample size of 300 smallholder farmers. We characterized the farm types using principal component analysis (PCA). To develop farm typologies, we subjected the PCA-derived typologies related factors to cluster analysis (CA). The results showed six farm types: Type 1, comprising cash crop and hybrid cattle farmers; Type 2, comprising food crop farmers; Type 3, composed of coffee-maize farmers; Type 4, comprising millet-livestock farmers; Type 5, comprising highly diversified farmers, and Type 6, comprising tobacco farmers. Land size owned, total tropical livestock unit, the proportion of land and nitrogen applied to different cropping systems were significant in the construction of farm typologies. Univariate analysis showed the household head's level of education, hired labour, group membership, access to extension services, and proportion of income from cropping activities as critical factors influencing farm typologies in the study area. This study demonstrates the importance of smallholder farm typologies in identifying greenhouse gas emissions hotspots, designing quantification experiment and policy framing. We concluded that policies and intervention measures targeting climate-smart agriculture at smallholder farms should consider not only farm-level soil fertility management technologies but also socio-economic characteristics that influence their adoption.
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    Gendered Vulnerabilities to Climate Change: Insights from Bor County, Jonglei State of South Sudan
    (Open Access Library Journal, 2025-05) Miruka, Okumba; Shisanya, Chris A.
    Documented evidence suggests that South Sudan is one of the most vulnerable countries regarding climate change. The vulnerability varies in different disaggregated groups of people, based on their societal position in a socially and gendered structure within a spatio-temporal space. This underlines the importance of understanding what may be referred to as “contextual conditions” that underpin the gender experiences of vulnerability to external shocks. This paper draws on evidence obtained from a field study in Bor County of Jonglei State of South Sudan and secondary data. It takes the position that not only is gender a powerful and pervasive contextual condition, but it also intersects with other existing factors. Therefore, manifestations of gendered vulnerability to climate change are the results of complex and interlinked factors. The paper offers some insights into understanding gendered vulnerabilities in Bor County. It concludes that gendered vulnerabilities to climate change and conflict are embedded in gender roles, traditional livelihoods, cultural norms, marital practices and resilience mechanisms. It recommends modernization and incorporation of indigenous knowledge in climate resilience action, measures to ensure that livelihood opportunities do not benefit men at women’s expense, identification and maximization of economic opportunities in women’s traditional domains such as milk processing and community conversations on cultural norms and practices that perpetuate women’s subordination.
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    Sustainable Water Resources Management for Food Security in Kenya: Case of Bwathonaro Catchment
    (Open Access Library, 2017-05) Shisanya, Chris A.; Onywere, Simon M.; Obando, Joy A.
    Food security is important in Kenya today. Bwathonaro sub-catchment in Tana catchment is experiencing food insecurity and severe water related challenges due to high population pressure and over-reliance on irrigated agriculture for livelihood. Bwathonaro river supports irrigated agriculture, which is a major source of livelihood for people in the watershed. These challenges include: water pollution, inappropriate solid waste disposal, illegal water abstraction and/or over-abstraction of water, inefficient irrigation practices, encroachment on and drainage of wetlands as well as inappropriate use of agrochemicals in wetlands. The specific objectives of the study were to 1) document current status of water resource use; 2) propose a strategy for enhancing subsistence food crop farming within the existing khat (miraa ) farming system; 3) promote efficient irrigation systems that reduce water use conflict and enhance equitable distribution, and 4) work with community to improve water quality and quantity. The study adopted a four-pronged approach in the data collection procedures, namely: socio-economic surveys, participatory approaches, biophysical data and geospatial tools. Results showed that water use conflicts are persistent in the catchment. However, one Water Resource User Association (WRUA)-BWARUA, has shown consistent progress towards managing water resources for food security. The WRUA has undertaken a number of activities including ensuring that water abstractors observe permit conditions, undertaking surveillance of polluters, awareness creation on protection of wetlands, springs and river banks among other activities in the catchment. The impact of these activities has been positive and includes: reduction of conflict over water, reduction in pollution, more water flowing downstream and more water availability in the catchment for diverse uses including irrigation for agriculture, livestock and wildlife. Such practices could be used in other sub-catchments of Kenya as showcases to facilitate the sustainable use of scarce water resources for the benefit of all stakeholders.